Gas regulator



June24, 1930. u w.w.w|LL.|rAMs Cms REGULATOR Filed May 19, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet l w/LL/AM WALLACE MLU/m45 June 24, 1930. w. w. WILLIAMS1,766,274

`GrAS REGULATOR Filed May 19, 1928 2 sheets-'sneer 2 Patented June 24,1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orifice,v`A j WILLIAM WALLACE WILLIAMS, FLUBBOCK, TEXAhS, AS-SIGNOR TO THE FEDERAL;

SUPPLY COMPANY,'A CORPORATION OF. TEXAS l Y Gas nEGULA'ron Applicationfilled May 18,

This invention relates to improvements in gas regulators for gasenginesand has as its primary object to provide means ada ted to be installedin the gas supply line or the engine and operating automatically toregulate the supply of gas to the engine in consonance with variationsin the load imposed upon the engine, the invention contemplating aregulator so constructed as to eiiect supply m of gas to the engine.precisely in accordance with the requirements of the engine to operate amachine or perform other work under certain load conditionsand whichregulator will be entirely automatic in its operation to vary the supplyof gas as the load upon the engine 1s varied.

t is a well known fact that the amount of gas required for thesuccessful operation of the engine varies in accordance with the amountof work to be performed by the engine and therefore thepresent-invention contemplates a regulator forV the purpose above statedembodying a diaphragm which is subjected to the suction force oftheengine in taking in gas, a valve for regulating the supply o gas, and adirect connection between the diaphragm and valve of such a character asto insure of accurate automatic adjustment of the valve in accordancewith iuctuations of the diaphragm.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a regulator of thetype referred to above, novel means for effecting automatic closing ofthe control valve of the regulator in the event of breakage or leakageof the diaphragm thereby obviating waste 0j gas, the inventioncontemplating the provision of a connection between the said valve andthe diaphragm of such character as to be devoid 4o of parts subject towear, the invention, 1n

192s. seal mi. 279,088.

a pipe for conducting the gas from the vcasing to the engine, operativeconnect-imbetween the diaphragma'nd valve for controlling the Alatterand thereby control the iow of gas, together with means whereby air maybe admitted to the casing at that side of the diaphragm opposite theside at which the valve is 1ocated,and the admission of air suitablycontrolled, so as to obviate hammering ofthe valve against its seat. Y*

Another object of the invention is to pro-J vide, in a regulatorconstructed as above briefly outlined, means whereby the valve may beadjusted to open position and mainj tained in such position for testingthe flow of as. 1

hile the accompanying drawings and the description which is yto follow,constitute a disclosure of the preferred embodiment of the invention` itwill be understood that various changes may be made within the scope ofwhat isclaimed. v 'i y In 4vthe accompanyingV drawings- 4 e Figure l isa vertical diametric sectional view through the regulator embodying theinvention. y Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 2-2 of Figure 1 -looking in the direction indicated by thearrows.

Fi ure 3 is a vertical substantially diametric sectional view taken onthe line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by thearrows.`

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1looking in the-direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5Y is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially onthe line 5-,5 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by thearrows.

Figure 6 is a vertical diametric sectional view taken substantially onthe line 6-6 of Figure 5 looking in the direction indicated by thearrows.

Figure 7 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevationillustrating the control valve and its seat, the valve being in openposition.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line8-8 of Figure 7 llooking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The regulator embodying the invention comprises a 'casing 1- which maybe of cast metal and which comprises a cylindrical wall 2, a closure 3constituting the top wall of the casing, and a bottom 4, the closure 3being secured in place upon the casing through the medium of a series ofbolts 5 secured through a projecting peripheral, flange on the saidclosure and a corresponding flange on the bottom 4, the mar 'n of acircular diaphragm 6 being arrange between the upper edge of the wall 2of the casing and the rim of the top or closure 3 and whichdiaphra mserves a purpose which will lpresently be ascribed.

Gas from a mainor pipe line is led into l"the casing of the regulatorthrough a pipe 7 mounted in the wall 2 of the body of the casin at oneside thereof, and at its inner end t is pipe communicates with the`intake branch 8 of the casing of the control valve of the regulatorwhich valve is indicated in general by the numeral 9.v The valve casingincludes an outlet branch 10 which opens into i the casing 1 and thesaid casing is y provided interiorly with 'a valve seat 11 between theinlet branch 8 and outlet branch 10. A valve head 12 coacts with theseat 11 and is slidably guided in its movement into and out ofengagement with the seat by a series of guide fingers 13 which arearranged in spaced m and bottom cross bars indicated 2O is tted into thetop cross bar 17 of the' relation to one another about the lower side ofthe seat 11. A stem 14 is slidably mounted through the bottom of thevalve casing and has a rounded upper end 15 engaging against the underside of the valve head 12, this construction permits of free rotation ofthe valve head so as to prevent uneven wear.

Inasmuch as the valve 12 is, in accordance with the principles of theinvention, to be controlled through the medium of the diaphragm 6,operative connection is provided etween the said diaphragm and the stem14 and thisconnection 1s preferably in the nature of a rectangular yoke16 co prising top y the numerals 17 and 18 respectively, and side rods19 which extend between the ends of the top and bottom cross bars andconnect the same. By referenceA to Figure 3 it willtbe observed that theyoke stra dles the valve casing 9 with the cross bars 17 and 18extending respectively above and below the casing, and as shown inFigures l and 3, a threaded stem yoke intermediate the ends thereof andis fitted through openings 21 formed centrally in the plies of thediaphragm 6, nuts 22 being threaded upon this portion of the stem andtightened to bind against the upper and under sides of the saiddiaphragm. The lower end of the stem 14 is threaded as indicated by thenumeral 23 andlitted into a threaded opening formed in the lower crossbar 18 of the yoke intermediate the ends thereof. At this oint it willbe evident that flexing of the iaphragm 6 will result in reciprocatorymotion being imparted to the stem 14 through the medium of the yoke.

.In order that the valve may be yieldably held to its seat and itsopening movement be yieldably resisted to a suitable degree, acompression sprin 24'is arranged to bear at its upper end against thebottom cross bar 18 of the yoke 16 and the lower portion of this sprinis received in a nipple 25 which is threa ed at its upper end into anopening 26 formed centrally in the bottom 4 of the casing 1, a4 washer27 being arranged within the nipple and supporting the lower end of thespring, and a cap 28 being threaded into the lower end of the nipple andformed with a threaded opening 29 in which is adjustably threaded anabutment screw 30 upon the upv per end of which the washer 27 issupported, it being understood that by adjusting this screw the tensionof the spring 24 may be varied as desired and consequently a greater orless resistance offered to the movement of the valve 12 to openposition.

Gas is delivered from the casing 1 to the engine by way of a deliverypipe 31 which is .fitted at one end into wall 2 of the casin 1 the pin14 thus permitting opening of the( -valve 12 to admit a charge of gas tothe casing and its supply to the engine. This operation of the valve 12will take lace at each intake stroke of the engine and 1t will beevident at this point that the diaphragmv 6 will be .flexed a distancein consonance with the load imposed upon the engine, which loaddetermines the degree of suction created within the cylinder of theregulator. Therefore the valve 12 will be permitted to openautomatically a distance in consonance with thel increase or decrease inload on the engine, and, 'as a consequence, precisely the amount of gaswill be supplied to the engine as is required to insure of efficientoperation of the engine.

l It is ofcourse desirable that atmospheric pressure be maintained`above the diaphragm 6 so that the diaphragm will be sensitive to thesuction created in the casing 1 and it is also desirable that, in theevent of leakage in the diaphragm or any damage to the diaphragm,suflicient gas be supplied by way of the regulator, to maintain theengine in operation until repairs can be made on the diaphragm, and inorder that these results may ing closed at its upper end as indicated bythe numeral 34 and provided upon the under side of its closed end with acentrally located, de'- pending sleeve 35 which is formed in one sidewith a recess 36 one wall of which,`indicated by the numeral 37, isvertically disposed,

-whereas the other wall is formed on an incline and with a series ofnotches providing downwardly presented shoulders 38. Air inlet openings39 are formed in the wall of the nozzle 32 and are arranged in a seriesextending circuinferentially of the said wall and on an incline, so thatthe openings, throughout the series, are spaced successivelygreaterdistances above the plane of the closure 3. A cylindrical cap 40is fitted onto the spout 32 and is provided with a closed upper end inwhich is anchored, by nuts 42, the upper end of a stein 43v whichprojects downwardly axially within tli'e cap 40 and slidably fits iiithe sleeve 35. A pin 44 is mounted upon the stem 43 and projectsradially therefrom and into the recess 36, and this pin is adapted toseat in the upper end of the recess, when the cap 40 is in v fullelevated position as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, or may engageagainst one or another of the shoulders 38 when the cap is in a partlyo1 full lowered position. A compression spring 45 is disposed about thestem 43 and bears at its uppei' end against the closed top of the capand at its lower end against the closed top 34 of the spout 32 andyieldably urges the cap in an upward direction.

It will be observed by reference to Figure 1 of the drawings that whenthe cap 40 is in a full elevated position, all of the openings 39 willbe uncovered and the stein 43 will like-A wise be in an elevatedposition, the pin 44, at such time, seating in the upper end of therecess 36. In this position of the stem 43, its lower end will be spaceda considerable distance above and in axial alinement with the upper endofthe threaded stud 20 which connects the yoke 16 with the diaphragm 6.In-

- effect engagement of the pin 44 with one or another of the shoulders38, the lower end of the cap will serve to cover and close a greater orless number of the vent openings 39 and in this manner the admission ofair into the cas` ing 1 above the diaphragm 6 may be regulated so as tosuitably vary the sensitiveness of the diaphragm 6 or in otherwords itsresponsiveness to the suction periods established in the casing l,thereby preventing hammering of the valve12 when the engine is operatingunder a heavy load condition. It will also be evident from the foregoingthat -when the cap 40 is shifted to full lowered position against thetension of the spring 45a1id the pin 44.engaged with the lowermost oneof the shoulders 38, all of the vent openings 39 will be closed and airvwill be excluded from the casing 1 above the diaphragm 6. The cap 40 isso adjusted, in thecevent of leakage or other damage to the diaphragm,and it will be understood at this point that when the cap is adjusted,its stem 43 will exert downward pressure against the center of thediaphragm 6 thus causing a lowering of the yoke 16 and an opening of thevalve 12 so that suiii-cient gas will How through the regulator and tothe engine to eiect operation of the engine, without interruption, whilethe diaphragmis being repaired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a gas regulator of the class described, acasing, a diaphragmwithin the casing, the diaphragm being located between the closed topand bottom of the casing, a gas inlet pipe leading into the casing belowthe diaphragm, i

the casing above the diaphragm, the spouty having a series of air inletopenings in its wall arranged at successively greater elevationswithrespect to the said top of thel casing,

and a cap adjustably mounted upon the spout and in its differentpositions of adjustment being adapted to extend over a greater or lessnumber of said openings whereby to regulate the supply of air to thecasing above the diaphragm.

2. 'In a gas regulator of the class described, a casing, a diaphragmwithin the casing, the

diaphragm being located between the closed top and bottom of the casing,a gas inlet pipe leading into the casing below the diaphragm,

a gas suction pipe leading from the casing below the diaphragm, a valvewithin the casing below the diaphragm for controlling the flow of'gasfrom the said inlet pipe to the casing, means yieldably resistingopening movement of the valve, operative means interposed between thediaphragm and the ren sisting means for rendering the resisting meansinactive upon flexing ofthe diaphragm by the suction in the casing setup by the suction pipe to permit openin of the valve, an air inlet spoutin the top o the casing above the diaphragm, the spout having a seriesof air inlet openings in its Wall arranged at vsuccessively greaterelevations with respect to the said top of the casing, a cap adj ustablymounted upon the spout and in its different positions of adjustmentbeing adaptedto extend over a greater or less number of said openingswhereby to regulate the supply of air to the casing above the diaphragm,and means for holding the cap in its positions of adjustment. y

3. In a gas regulator of the class described, a casing, a diaphragmwithin the casing, the diaphragm being located between the closed topand bottom of the casing, a gas inlet pipe aoA leading into the casingbelow the diaphragm,

projecting radially from the stem and en-,

gageable selectively with said shoulders.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signature. WILLIAMy WALLACE WILLIAMS.

a as suction i e leadin from the caslng g P g below the diap ravin, avalve within the casing below'the diaphragm for controlling l.the flowof gas from the said inlet pipe to the casing, means yieldablyresistingopening movement of thevalve, operative means interposed between thediaphragm and the resisting means for rendering the resisting meansinactive upon flexing of the diaphragm by the suction in the casing setup by the suction pipe to permit openin of the valve, an air inlet spoutin the top o the casing above the diaphragm, the spout having a seriesof air inlet openings in its wall arranged at successively greaterelevations with respect to the said top of the casing a cap adjustablymounted upon the spout and in its different positions of adjustmentbeing adapted to eX- tend over a greater or less number of said openingswhereby to regulate the supply of air to the casing above the diaphragm,means for holding the cap in its positions o'f adjustment, and meansyieldably urging the cap in an upward direction.

4. In a gas regulator of the class described, a casing, a diaphragmwithin the casing, di-

. viding the same between. its closed top and bottom, a gas inlet` pipeleading into the casing below the diaphragm, a gas suction pipe leadingfrom the casing below the diaphragm, a valve within the casing below thedia'- phragm for controlling the flow'of gas from the said inlet pipeinto the casing, means yieldably resisting opening movement of thevalve, operative means interposed between the diaphragm and theresisting means for rendering the resistance means inactive upon flexingof the diaphragm by the suction set up by the pipes whereby to permitopening of the valve, a spout in the top of the casing having a seriesof air inlet openings in its wall at different elevations with respectto the said top` a cap adjustably fitting the spout and adjustable tocover a greater or-less number of said openings and to positions expos-

